Cuomo restores $457 million in food stamp cuts

New York State will restore food stamp funds for some 300,000 families statewide.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced late Tuesday that the state will step in and save Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for some 300,000 families statewide.Credit: NYS OTDA

New York State will make up for about $457 million in recent federal cuts to food stamps.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced late Tuesday that the state will step in and save Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for some 300,000 families statewide.

"These federal cuts have made it harder for our state's most vulnerable residents to put food on the table," said Cuomo in a statement. "The state has intervened on behalf of these low-income New Yorkers to make sure they can get food for themselves and their families."

The federal cuts came about after a contentious back and forth in Washington DC for almost four years. President Barack Obama signed the nearly $1 trillion bill in early February.

The agreement, which traditionally funds both agricultural subsidies and the national food stamp program, cut SNAP by $8.7 billion.

About 1.8 million people rely on the SNAP program in New York City alone.

According to state numbers, New York households in the food stamp program would lose an average $127 per month, compared to the national average of $90 in monthly cuts.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who voted against the federal compromise due to the cuts to SNAP, thanked Cuomo on Tuesday.

"This is a heroic step to stave off hunger in New York," she said in a statement. "I hope other governors in 'heat and eat' states will follow his strong leadership."